Community & Clubs: Various organizations having open house sessions

Jim de Boom

The Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council on May 1-8 is sponsoring Open Faiths — Open Doors Week. The goal is to allow the public to learn about different faiths in the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine and Newport Beach in a friendly, unthreatening way, according to The Rev. Julie Elkins, council president and minister at First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa.

Reservations are needed for the Celebration of Different Faiths, Common Action Awards Dinner scheduled for May 4 at the Costa Mesa Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive.

The evening includes a buffet dinner, fellowship, music, prayers, and Bridge Building Awards. Cost is $30 per person, $240 for a table of 8 and sponsorship is $100. For reservations, e-mail nmiinterfaith@aol.com or call (714) 921-8665.

Other events during the week, which are free and open to the community, include 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services on Sunday at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach. Earth Day will be celebrated in both worship services with educational presentations, display of alternate fuel vehicles and the announcement of two winners of $1,500-Parry Environmental Scholarships.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday, Rabbi Amitai Adler will preach during the regular worship service at Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

At 1:30 p.m. on Monday, First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa, 420 W. 19th St., hosts a tea for missionary Romeo Del Resario, who will be talking about his work in Cambodia.

On Tuesday, the Newport Beach Christian Science Reading Room, 3315 Via Lido, will host an open house, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, email noiellarue@aol.com.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 3-7, the Costa Mesa Christian Science Reading Room will hold an open house at 2880 Mesa Verde Drive East, . For more information call (714) 546-4252.

At 7:30 p.m. on May 4 all are invited to the Newport Beach Christian Science Church, 3303 Via Lido, Newport Beach for a worship service.

From 7 a.m. on May 5, Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Parish Church, 3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, invites anyone interested in participating in "Metric Ton of Food" by loading vehicles with food and prayers for safe travel to Mexico. Coffee and muffins will be served.

At 12:30 p.m. on May 5, UCI Interfaith will have a special Cinco de Mayo luncheon. Folks can contact Nancy Jenks, executive director of UCI Interfaith at (949) 646-1432 or (949) 701-0743 or email

At 7:30 p.m. on May 5, the LDS Church Newport Beach Stake, 2150 Bonita Canyon Drive, will host an open house. Come and take a tour of the building and ask questions about the Mormon faith.

At noon on May 6, take a tour of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County, 3194 B Airport Loop, Costa Mesa. You are welcome to stay for, watch and participate in the 1 p.m. Friday service. At 8 p.m., the center will have a presentation and an open discussion on Islam and misconceptions for high school students and their advisors. The evening concludes with dinner. For more information, call (714) 432-0060 or email fasaleh@hotmail.com.

Starting at 10:30 am on May 7, Soka University, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, will hold its annual International Festival at Peace Lake, Founders Hall and Recreation Center.

The Islamic Center of Irvine, 2 Truman St., Irvine, will host an open house from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with tours of the mosque. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact the ICOI office at (949) 786-4264 and ask for Issa.

*Breakfast club sponsors spaghetti dinner

The Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club will be hosting their annual Spaghetti Dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on May 7 at the Costa Mesa Senior Center. There will be a silent auction and raffles. The dinner cost is $10 for all you can eat and beverages are included. For tickets, call Walter Garcia at (949) 400-8250.

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Thought for the day

"Life is not just about what you can do as a person. It's about what others learn from what you are doing, which has a positive impact on them. Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can. There will always be a time when you will be grateful you did."

— Author unknown

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Service club meetings this week

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit http://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, this week for a program by Karen Graves, "Experience in Haiti after the Earthquake." For more information, visit http://www.nhexchange.org.

The 40-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit http://www.costamesakiwanis.org.

The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine, the Group Study Exchange Team from Holland, a group of young professionals from ages 25 to 35 will talk about their experiences visiting the U.S. and how their professions differ here and at home. On May 5, Terry Dwyer will present an update on the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Visit http://www.ni-rotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club's meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.